K2 and the Three

Never mind the cheese - this is the bollocks. The Recursives give The Undertone's classic some welly - captured live at The Hand pub in Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant
Al - lead vocals and bass
Bri - backing vocals and tambourine
Neil - backing vocals and drums
Tez - guitar

Teenage Kicks -  The Recursives

noxpox - Why Are They Afraid Of Freedom?

Moon Tales (Instrumental)

Wish Of Silence

Contemporary work for String Quartet, Woodwinds and Percussion.

My Method of Composing and Producing

I'm sharing my method of composing and producing music recordings in case other composer-producers like me might find ideas worth exploring in their own work. I use this method for Classical, Avant-Pop or Neo-Folk Instrumental genres, not for Ambient and Soundscape pieces. Non-composers might find this explanation interesting, but having a bit of music theory background will definitely help. I consider myself a humble learner when it comes to music theory. 

I owe a debt of gratitude to British musician and educator Gareth Green, whose Music Matters online courses and free YouTube lessons have taught me so much over the past few years. Thanks to his instruction, I’ve moved from struggling to compose music by trial and error to something more enjoyable and productive. The knowledge I've gained has taken my work in new and expanding directions. As the saying goes, “Theory is not a cage — it’s a map. It doesn’t make the journey for you, but it keeps you from getting lost.” 

When I start a new piece, I begin by choosing a key, and picking a scale drawn from one of these sources:
 
1) Western Tonal / Functional Harmony - major or minor chords I II III IV V VI VII
2) Modal Harmony - Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, etc.
3) Slonimsky's "Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns" 
4) Messiaen’s "Seven Modes of Limited Transposition" 

For many pieces, I also decide on a progression, one as a simple as I IV V, or something more elaborate.  

Next I create a "scales and progressions" piano track in my DAW (digital audio workstation software) and enter the chords I to VII in my chosen key. These harmonized scales serve as a basis for writing multipart harmonies and finding pivot chords for key modulations. 

At the start, I know what instruments I want to use, making adjustments along the way. I tend to write chord parts first, then melodies created through a mix of improvisation and direct input in the DAW. Sometimes I start with a melody.

I develop melodies and variations of a phrase by some combination of: a) passing it from one instrument to another, transposing it by an interval that sounds pleasing, b) reversing it, c) inverting it around the tonic (first) note of the scale. These are well-known methods. 

After completing a section, I choose another scale and maybe a new key and repeat the process until I have a draft of the entire piece. Then I export a recording and listen to it “offline”, take notes of errors and new ideas, and incorporate them back into the piece. Often this “compose / listen / compose” cycle is repeated many times. These iterative cycles include adding new ideas, polishing transitions between sections, changing the arrangement, and incorporating expressive details like accents, and articulations (staccato, sustain, portato etc.). I’m often working several different pieces at once. 

Last is mixing and mastering: balancing the loudness between instruments and adjusting elements like reverb, compression, and equalization. I tend to mix as I compose, even though many producers frown on that approach. I find mixing as I go helps me envision the completed piece and make adjustments to the choice of instruments; it self-inspires me when the piece is starting to sound good.  At the end I do a final mix, but as the saying goes, “A mix is never finished — it’s surrendered.”

In the end, this method gives me a basis for exploration and creativity and helps me stay focused. The goal is always to make a piece of music that feels expressive, cohesive, and emotionally resonant.

Suite for Chamber Ensemble 2024

Suite For Chamber Ensemble 2024

24 3 17

Harp Meditation

Cast of characters:

K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–piano, drums, and composition
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen– Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, mix, mastering, and production
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – Warwick fretless four string bass, mandolin, and synth
Llanpsych -- @llanpsych -- Tez – Fender Stratocaster electric guitar
Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark –  symphonic VST instruments including flute and horns, vocal effects, and bells  

This song began on the last day of the cold January of this year, when Ken sat down at his piano and recorded an improvisational jam. This is the first song Eclectic Collective has done where Ken started it with a piano, so we were all very excited to work on it. 
  Josh was the first one to add a part, adding his fretless bass guitar, and going back and forth with Ken, while he added the drums to match the groove up right. Josh also added the mandolin after the guitars were laid down, as well as the descending synth blasts you hear throughout. Before all that, though, Stephen recorded the half of the thrilling guitar you hear in there. After Stephen had his part down, Tez came along and finished the guitar work. Last, but certainly not least, Mark added the amazing symphonic elements, specifically the horns and flute you hear in there. He also added the cold January wind, represented by his breath and some tinkling bells. 
  Once it was all wrapped up, we asked Stephen to put a bow on it with his expert production, which he came through with, as always.
  As mentioned, this is an extraordinary offering from EC, starring Ken not only on drums, but on the keys, as well. It felt like we were jamming all together in the same room, and hope it comes across that way. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Acoustic Piano track version  
https://on.soundcloud.com/QZLnRF7XfbNz6vDR7

January Epiphany-Eclectic Collective

Idiotic Robin - 13-4-2025

A song from my early twenties.. venting frustrations about the record biz, and live playing politics! Nothing Earth shattering.. just thoughts from a then @ young man! Recording artists and musicians are definitely not @ losers! Some money grubbers.. well .., they are!!! I think it was written in 1994!! Maybe 1995… memory is a bit hazy on this one, as I never got to record it with a proper band! Hope you all dig it! 🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼 I apologize for the guitars., I used GarageBand, and strummed them on my IPhone, ha! Also.. they fit in on full band version… would be definitely more dynamic, if I played it live, on a real guitar!!!Ha!😇

Fool In The Valley (Acoustic)

Bingo blow off pt1 . Live recording

actions/ reactions/ interactions: guitar/ pedal

042725gnoodlin'

Cast of characters:
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – Warwick fretless four string bass, Collings mandolin, Rogue banjo, Roland electric piano, and composition

K2 and the Three [and the Four]-- @k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken — drums and percussion

Llanpsych -- @llanpsych -- Tez – Fender Stratocaster electric guitar

TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen– Tom Anderson custom T model electric guitar, Taylor T5z acoustic guitar, production, mix, and mastering

This song began with Josh coming up with it on his electric piano and fretless bass, to which he added some banjo, then mandolin. Once he had a solid basis for the song, he shared it with the rest of Eclectic Collective for them to add their parts. 
  Ken was first up, adding his drums in an such a creative way that matched Josh's bassline perfectly. It was originally recorded to a looper disco beat, but that was blown out of the water by Ken's creative drumming. Tez jumped in next, adding his thrilling guitar to the second half of the song. Not to be outdone, Stephen batted clean up, adding his textural and melodic guitar to the first half. He also added some subtle, but brilliant acoustic guitar to the first half, too. 
  This is a great example of Eclectic Collective coming up with an original band sound out of one of Josh's seeds. We're always pushing boundaries and trying to find fun and exciting ways to build a song. Lots of teamwork in here, too, of course. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it.

The Plot Thickens-Eclectic Collective

Just having a bit of nostalgic fun for a song I wrote, during the Pandemic…The complete version is on my featured banner! I think I’ve @ finally reached that age.. where this can be a truism .. both in intended positive.. or unfortunate negative… inspired by MisterMark and his posts of isolated parts… hope you enjoy!🙌🕺🏼🙏

It’s All Downhill From Here-Isolated Vocals and Bass Guitar

Cast of Characters:
Paul Young — PRS SE semi-hollow body electric guitar
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 – Upright double bass and organ
K2 and the Three [and the Four] -- @k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums
TexMex Shaman–@texmex-shaman –Stephen– Earl Scruggs custom banjo, production, mix, and mastering

This is a song that Josh and his cousin Paul came up with on Thanksgiving night, after everyone went to bed. They were working on a much longer composition, but got stuck in the jam after looking at each other and wordlessly saying, "this is the magic, stick with it." We were playing an electric guitar and a stand-up bass to a looper disco beat when we recorded this. So, of course, Josh asked Ken if he'd add some real drums, which he did as though he were in the room jamming with us. Then josh laid down some organ to go with the jam. Josh and Stephen also had the idea to add some banjo in here, which Stephen did like the excellent musician he is. He also managed to mix this live recording hybrid with exceptional skill. 
  This is an example of two musicians who are intimately familiar with each other, and each other's playing and sensibilities, accompanied by two other musicians who have become nearly as familiar over the past few years. Happy belated Turkey Day to everyone. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it

The Ice Melted-Paul Young/Eclectic Collective

Somber

For many years I concentrated on painting, but meanwhile I come back to music more and more. I always like to connect the different mediums, also writing lyrics. I play several instruments with main instrument classical guitar. I'm no singer, but sometimes I like to send a message.
I enjoy your music on SC very much and often hear my likes. It's much better then the mainstream.  Many thanks to you all!
Hope, you enjoy my music too:)
You can buy some albums on Bandcamp.

Want to have a look at my paintings? Go on my website:

15th December, 30 years today since my beautiful friend Tina was taken too early. Your smile lives forever. Thinking of you sweety 🤍

Harp Meditation

Gabriele C. Kunz

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